Extruding one volume on the site generates space for a public park and recreational areas.

Currently in progress, the Taipei City Wall will make use of an 82,000 sq meter site in Taiwan. The design process for the residential complex envisioned a series of boxes stacked upon one another, leaving gaps between each box to let in light and encourage natural ventilation. BIG first stacked the boxes linearly and vertically, then condensed the tower in an accordion fashion, leaving behind a three-dimensional checkerboard facade.

Each box measures 15 x 15 x 15 meters and overlaps enough for an elevator shaft to connect to the highest floor. Some of the gaps between the boxes are narrow and only allow light and air through, but some are much larger and leave space for a community program. Five different types of spaces are available for the residents; a green forest where you can enjoy a spectacular view of the city, a Japanese stone garden for relaxation and immersion, a wooden pool garden where you can go for a swim, a playground for the kids, and finally a rooftop terrace on the 25th floor. The hope for the design is that the ample recreation and green spaces create a place for a local community to grown and develop.

6 Comments

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dgullJuly 26, 2010 at 2:29 pm

Le Corbusier Proposed this in \\\”Towards a New Architecture\\\” with the Immeuble Villas. But that was in 1922. We\\\’ve come a long way.

This is a nice example of the potential of cheap, 100% recyclable pre-fabricated structures.

One note – saying that these retain “many of the suburban qualities that some covet” is laughable, unless your comment is specific to Taiwan (which I know little about). Here in the States, there’s absolutely nothing in these a suburbanite wants; to think otherwise is to misunderstand why people live in the suburbs (it’s not for the shared greenspace, or for the interior light…)

Eric HuntingJuly 16, 2010 at 11:42 am

The potential evolvability of this design intrigues me, since I\’m of the opinion that it is an anachronism that any building should be thought of as having a single purpose throughout its lifespan. Though this is ostensibly a residential complex, here we see a building as an urban landscape formed from largely functionally generic units that could readily evolve and adapt not only to suit varying dwelling configurations within each block along with the aesthetic tastes of the inhabitants, but also evolving in function as urban lifestyle evolves. One could easily imagine this structure as one of P.M.\’s Bolos; an eco-village complex that evolves these simple blocks into a vast assortment of functional living, work, education, and play facilities. The one flaw in presenting this concept is that the designers did not explore this potential diversity of use and customization at the block-level, but then the project was intended as a mere housing complex and not a more sophisticated community. Real estate developers remain a century behind the curve.